Province of Alberta The 28th Legislature First Session Alberta Hansard Tuesday, March 5, 2013 Issue 30 The Honourable Gene Zwozdesky, Speaker

Legislative Assembly of Alberta The 28th Legislature First Session Zwozdesky, Hon. Gene, Edmonton-Mill Creek (PC), Speaker Rogers, George, Leduc-Beaumont (PC), Deputy Speaker and Chair of Committees Jablonski, Mary Anne, Red Deer-North (PC), Deputy Chair of Committees Allen, Mike, Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo (PC) Amery, Moe, Calgary-East (PC) Anderson, Rob, Airdrie (W), Official Opposition House Leader Anglin, Joe, Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre (

W) Barnes, Drew, Cypress-Medicine Hat (

W) Bhardwaj, Naresh, Edmonton-Ellerslie (PC) Bhullar, Hon. Manmeet Singh, Calgary-Greenway (PC) Bikman, Gary, Cardston-Taber-Warner (

W) Bilous, Deron, Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview (ND) Blakeman, Laurie, Edmonton-Centre (AL), Liberal Opposition House Leader Brown, Dr. Neil, QC, Calgary-Mackay-Nose Hill (PC) Calahasen, Pearl, Lesser Slave Lake (PC) Campbell, Hon. Robin, West Yellowhead (PC), Deputy Government House Leader Cao, Wayne C.N., Calgary-Fort (PC) Casey, Ron, Banff-Cochrane (PC) Cusanelli, Christine, Calgary-Currie (PC) Dallas, Hon. Cal, Red Deer-South (PC) DeLong, Alana, Calgary-Bow (PC) Denis, Hon. Jonathan, QC, Calgary-Acadia (PC), Deputy Government House Leader Donovan, Ian, Little Bow (

W) Dorward, David C., Edmonton-Gold Bar (PC) Drysdale, Hon. Wayne, Grande Prairie-Wapiti (PC) Eggen, David, Edmonton-Calder (ND), New Democrat Opposition Whip Fawcett, Hon. Kyle, Calgary-Klein (PC) Fenske, Jacquie, Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville (PC) Forsyth, Heather, Calgary-Fish Creek (

W) Fox, Rodney M., Lacombe-Ponoka (

W) Fraser, Rick, Calgary-South East (PC) Fritz, Yvonne, Calgary-Cross (PC) Goudreau, Hector G., Dunvegan-Central Peace-Notley (PC) Griffiths, Hon. Doug, Battle River-Wainwright (PC) Hale, Jason W., Strathmore-Brooks (

W) Hancock, Hon. Dave, QC, Edmonton-Whitemud (PC), Government House Leader Hehr, Kent, Calgary-Buffalo (AL) Horne, Hon. Fred, Edmonton-Rutherford (PC) Horner, Hon. Doug, Spruce Grove-St. Albert (PC) Hughes, Hon. Ken, Calgary-West (PC) Jansen, Sandra, Calgary-North West (PC) Jeneroux, Matt, Edmonton-South West (PC) Johnson, Hon. Jeff, Athabasca-Sturgeon-Redwater (PC) Johnson, Linda, Calgary-Glenmore (PC) Kang, Darshan S., Calgary-McCall (AL), Liberal Opposition Whip Kennedy-Glans, Donna, Calgary-Varsity (PC) Khan, Stephen, St. Albert (PC) Klimchuk, Hon.

Heather, Edmonton-Glenora (PC) Kubinec, Maureen, Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock (PC) Lemke, Ken, Stony Plain (PC) Leskiw, Genia, Bonnyville-Cold Lake (PC) Luan, Jason, Calgary-Hawkwood (PC) Lukaszuk, Hon. Thomas A., Edmonton-Castle Downs (PC) Mason, Brian, Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood (ND), Leader of the New Democrat Opposition McAllister, Bruce, Chestermere-Rocky View (W), Official Opposition Deputy Whip McDonald, Everett, Grande Prairie-Smoky (PC) McIver, Hon. Ric, Calgary-Hays (PC), Deputy Government House Leader McQueen, Hon.

Diana, Drayton Valley-Devon (PC) Notley, Rachel, Edmonton-Strathcona (ND), New Democrat Opposition House Leader Oberle, Hon. Frank, Peace River (PC) Olesen, Cathy, Sherwood Park (PC) Olson, Hon. Verlyn, QC, Wetaskiwin-Camrose (PC) Pastoor, Bridget Brennan, Lethbridge-East (PC) Pedersen, Blake, Medicine Hat (

W) Quadri, Sohail, Edmonton-Mill Woods (PC) Quest, Dave, Strathcona-Sherwood Park (PC) Redford, Hon. Alison M., QC, Calgary-Elbow (PC), Premier Rodney, Hon. Dave, Calgary-Lougheed (PC) Rowe, Bruce, Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills (

W) Sandhu, Peter, Edmonton-Manning (PC) Sarich, Janice, Edmonton-Decore (PC) Saskiw, Shayne, Lac La Biche-St. Paul-Two Hills (W), Official Opposition Deputy House Leader Scott, Hon. Donald, QC, Fort McMurray-Conklin (PC) Sherman, Dr. Raj, Edmonton-Meadowlark (AL), Leader of the Liberal Opposition Smith, Danielle, Highwood (W), Leader of the Official Opposition Starke, Hon. Dr. Richard, Vermilion-Lloydminster (PC) Stier, Pat, Livingstone-Macleod (

W) Strankman, Rick, Drumheller-Stettler (

W) Swann, Dr. David, Calgary-Mountain View (AL) Towle, Kerry, Innisfail-Sylvan Lake (W), Official Opposition Whip VanderBurg, Hon. George, Whitecourt-Ste. Anne (PC) Weadick, Hon. Greg, Lethbridge-West (PC) Webber, Len, Calgary-Foothills (PC) Wilson, Jeff, Calgary-Shaw (

W) Woo-Paw, Hon. Teresa, Calgary-Northern Hills (PC) Xiao, David H., Edmonton-McClung (PC) Young, Steve, Edmonton-Riverview (PC), Government Whip Party standings: Progressive Conservative: 61 Wildrose: 17 Alberta Liberal: 5 New Democrat: 4 Officers and Officials of the Legislative Assembly W.J. David McNeil, Clerk Robert H. Reynolds, QC, Law Clerk/ Director of Interparliamentary Relations Shannon Dean, Senior Parliamentary Counsel/Director of House Services Stephanie LeBlanc, Parliamentary Counsel and Legal Research Officer Philip Massolin, Manager of Research Services Brian G.

Hodgson, Sergeant-at-Arms Chris Caughell, Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms Gordon H. Munk, Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms Liz Sim, Managing Editor of Alberta Hansard

Executive Council Alison Redford Premier, Pres ident of Executive Council Thomas Lukaszuk Deputy Premier, Minister of Enterprise and Advanced Education, Ministerial Liaison to the Canadian Forces Manmeet Singh Bhullar Minist er of Service Alberta Robin Campbell Minister of Aboriginal Relations Cal Dallas Minister of Internationa l and Intergovernmental Relations Jonathan Denis Minister of Justice and Solicitor General Wayne Drysdale Minister of Infrastructure Kyle Fawcett Associate Minister of Finance Doug Griffiths Minister of Municipal Affairs Dave Hancock Minister of Human Services Fred Horne Minister of Health Doug Horner President of Treasury Board and Minister of Finance Ken Hughes Minister of Energy Jeff Johnson Minister of Education Heather Klimchuk Minister of Culture Ric McIver Minister of Transportation Diana McQueen Minister of Environment and Sustainable Resource Development Frank Oberle Associate Minister of Services for Persons with Disabilities Verlyn Olson Minister of Agri culture and Rural Development Dave Rodney Associate Minister of Wellness Donald Scott Associate Minister of Account ability, Transparency and Transformation Richard Starke Minister of Tourism, Parks and Recreation George VanderBurg Associate Minister of Seniors Greg Weadick Associate Minister of Municipal Affairs Teresa Woo-Paw Associate Minister of Inte rnational and Intergovernmental Relations

STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ALBERTA Standing Committee on Alberta’s Economic Future Chair: Mr. Amery Deputy Chair: Mr. Fox Bhardwaj Cao Donovan Dorward Eggen Hehr Luan McDonald Olesen Pastoor Quadri Rogers Rowe Sarich Strankman Xiao Standing Committee on the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund Chair: Mr. Khan Deputy Chair: Mrs. Jablonski Anderson Casey Dorward Eggen Kubinec Sandhu Sherman Select Special Conflicts of Interest Act Review Committee Chair: Mr. Allen Deputy Chair: Mr. Luan Blakeman Dorward Fenske Johnson, L.

McDonald Notley Saskiw Wilson Young Standing Committee on Families and Communities Chair: Mr. Quest Deputy Chair: Mrs. Forsyth Brown Cusanelli DeLong Fraser Fritz Goudreau Jablonski Jansen Jeneroux Leskiw Notley Pedersen Swann Towle Wilson Young Standing Committee on Legislative Offices Chair: Mr. Cao Deputy Chair: Mr. McDonald Bikman Blakeman Brown DeLong Eggen Leskiw Quadri Rogers Wilson Special Standing Committee on Members’ Services Chair: Mr. Zwozdesky Deputy Chair: Mr. Rogers Casey Forsyth Fraser Kennedy- Glans Mason McDonald Quest Sherman Smith Standing Committee on Private Bills Chair: Mr.

Xiao Deputy Chair: Ms L. Johnson Barnes Bhardwaj Brown Cusanelli DeLong Fox Fritz Goudreau Jablonski Leskiw Notley Olesen Rowe Strankman Swann Webber Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections, Standing Orders and Printing Chair: Ms Olesen Deputy Chair: Mr. Lemke Calahasen Cao Casey Hehr Jansen Kennedy-Glans Kubinec Luan McAllister Notley Pedersen Rogers Sandhu Saskiw Towle Young Standing Committee on Public Accounts Chair: Mr. Anderson Deputy Chair: Mr.

Dorward Allen Amery Anglin Bilous Donovan Fenske Goudreau Hale Hehr Jeneroux Khan Pastoor Quadri Quest Sarich Stier Standing Committee on Resource Stewardship Chair: Ms Kennedy-Glans Deputy Chair: Mr. Anglin Allen Barnes Bikman Bilous Blakeman Calahasen Casey Fenske Hale Johnson, L. Khan Kubinec Lemke Sandhu Stier Webber

March 5, 2013 Alberta Hansard 1355 Legislative Assembly of Alberta Title: Tuesday, March 5, 2013 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 5, 2013 [The Speaker in the chair] head: Prayers The Speaker: Hon. members, welcome back. Let us pray. Dear Lord and Great Creator, as we begin the third sitting of the First Se ssion of the 28th Legislature, we ask for guidance in fulfilling our duties for the enduring benefit of all Albertans. As Members of this Legislative Assembly let us also be reminded that we have all pledged to faithfully serve the citizens we humbly represent. Amen.

Hon. members, please remain standing for the singing of our national anthem led by M. Paul Lorieau. Hon. Members: O Canada, our home and native land! True patriot love in all thy sons command. With glowing hearts we see thee rise, The True North strong and free! From far and wide, O Canada, We stand on guard for thee. God keep our land glorious and free! O Canada, we stand on guard for thee. O Canada, we stand on guard for thee. The Speaker: Thank you, hon. members, and thank you, M. Lorieau. Welcome back.

It’s nice to have you with us. [applause] Please be seated. head: Introduction of Guests The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-South West Mr. Jeneroux: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s good to be back. I’m pleased to introduce to you and through you to all Members of the Legislative Assembly a group of young students and teachers from the George P. Nicholson school, located in the constituency of Edmonton- South West , that I’m so honoured to serve. Accompanying these 20 bright and energetic students is their teacher, Mrs. Marcie Syme, and parent Ms Michele Saul.

They are seated in the members’ gallery, and I’d ask that the students and guests from George P. N icholson please rise and receive the traditional welcome of the Assembly. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Sherwood Park. Ms Olesen: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s my pleasure today to rise before you and introduce to you and through you to all members of this Assembly teacher Ms Amy Antony and 22 of her best and brightest students from Madonna Catholic school in Sherwood Park. I am pleased that they are able to be here today to take

part in activities that will help them learn more about the workings of our government. I would ask that they now rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of this Assembly. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Mill Woods. Mr. Quadri: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s nice to be back. It is my pleasure and honour to introduce to you and through you to all members of this Assembly 51 fine and very energetic students from Meyonohk elementary school. Meyonohk is a Cree word meaning a nice place to be. I think it’s the right spot in Alberta right now to appreciate our democracy.

T hey’re visiting our Assembly today accompanied by teacher Deb Sitter. Now I would request them to please rise and receive our warm traditional welcome. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Innisfail-Sylvan Lake. Mrs. Towle: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m excited to be back. I would like to introduce to you and through you to all hon. members a group of elementary school students visiting from my constituency. The 17 grade 6 students from Spruce View school are sitting in the gallery along with their teacher, Carm en Abraham; vice-principal, Glen Brooke; and parent volunteers Bobby-Jo Stannard and Kim McKain.

I hope they enjoy their time at the Legislature. I’ll ask them to please stand as my hon. colleagues provide the traditional warm welcome of this Assem - bly. The Speaker: The hon. Premier. Ms Redford: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m pleased to rise today to introduce to you and through you to all members of this Assembly some very special people and exceptionally talented artists that you had the opportunity to host earlier this morning. I’d ask each of them to stand up as I introduce them. First of all, Jeff de Boer is an artist and sculptor from Calgary.

He is also a board member at the In -Definite Arts Society, which supports arts and people that are working with artists with developmental disabilities. Megan Gilmore is from Calgary as well and is a contributing artist representing the In -Definite Arts Society. Brad McCaull is also from Calgary and is a contributing artist from the In -Definite Arts Society. Tony Goodison is from Calgary and is a contributing artist as well; of course, as we heard earlier, he took his first plane ride today to come up here. Monique Morley is also a contributing artist.

Johnny Davenport is also from Calgary and a contributing artist. As well, Alyssa Hatton is here with her parents. Alyssa is from Chestermere and is a contributing artist. Of course, there are also many people in the gallery from the Edmonton and Calgary PDD community. Mr. Speaker, you’ll know that under Mr. de Boer’s guidance we had the opportunity today to take a look at the collective work of A Meaningful Life, which is a collection of work by 24 artists that are living with developmental disabilities.

It’s a showcase of everything that is truly wonderful about Alberta and about making a commitment to our lives and to our community. I’d like everyone to give this wonderful group of people in both galleries, yours and the members’, a warm welcome to this House. The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Human Services. Mr. Hancock: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As you well know, this is National Social Work Week, and I rise to introduce to you and through you to all members of the Assembly seven registered social workers from the Ministry of Human Services and from the Alberta Colleg e of Social Workers.

Every day social workers contribute to the health and well -being of Albertans, often in challenging circumstances. Their efforts deserve recognition because we all benefit from the many positive outcomes of their work when we see peopl e in our communities doing well and overcoming difficulties in their lives. In addition to four employees from Human Services, we have here today three representatives from the Alberta College of Social Workers. The college is a valuable partner in developing and supporting a skilled workforce and strong leadership within the social work field.

1356 Alberta Hansard March 5, 2013 Mr. Speaker, I’d ask the following people to rise and accept the traditional warm welcome of the House: Sabrina McConnell, a child intervention specialist from Grande Prairie; Shirley Cunningham, a caseworker from Joussard, with the Lesser Slave Lake regional council; John Dunn, strategic initiatives and child care specialist from Edmonton, serving the Métis settlements; Pauline Hunter, a caseworker from AKO Child an d Family Services in the Montana First Nation, Hobbema. Representing the Alberta College of Social Workers: Valerie Kinjerski from St.

Albert, Charity Lui from Edmonton, and Lori Sigurdson from Edmonton. I’d ask you all to give these wonderful workers for humans in Alberta a warm traditional welcome. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Cypress-Medicine Hat. 1:40 Mr. Barnes: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m pleased to rise today to introduce to you and through you to all members of the Assembly a dedicated group of nursing students from Medicine Hat College. This group of bright young students has been working hard to promote and build support for a much-needed online organ donation registry in Alberta.

The gaping hole of not having an online registry is costing Albertans dearly, some with their lives. The students are in the gallery today with some of the community partners of their focus group as well as two of their instructors. We have students Ashley Anctil, Caitlin Beck, Jarvis Butac, Desiree Ehresman, Gabrielle McDonald, and Bryson Daudlin. With them today are community partners Lynda King, Helen Markussen -Brown, and Ken Martin. Also with them are two Medicine Hat College instructors, Susan Sexsmith and Denise Hellman. Please rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of this Assembly.

The Speaker: Hon. Premier, your second introduction. My apolo- gies for not catching your eye earlier. Ms Redford: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was very glad to come back to Edmonton yesterday and to be in the House. Of course, in politics we meet an awful lot of people through different walks of life. Something I’ve never done before in this Legislature is introduce someone who is not only married to one of my colleagues but has become a very good friend, and that is Sherry Drysdale, who is married to our Minister of Infrastructure.

The reason I wanted to introduce her today, I think on behalf of most MLAs that are sitting in this House today, is to thank the spouses that support us every day in the work that we do here as we enter into a long session. Of course, Mr. Speaker, there is much excitement this week. One of those pieces of excitement this week is that it is Sherry’s birthday tomorrow. It is my birthday on Thursday, and it is budget day. So it is a festive week in the Legislature. Sherry, I’d like you to rise and receive a warm welcome. The Speaker: The Associate Minister of Municipal Affairs has an introduction. Mr.

Weadick: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s an extreme pleasure today to introduce to you and to all members of this Assembly my biggest supporter, my best friend, my partner in business and in life for the last 35 years, my wife, Joanne Weadick. Thank you. The Speaker: Are there other introductions? The hon. Member for Lesser Slave Lake. Ms Calahasen: Thank you. It is indeed an honour to introduce an individual who is the backbone of the lady that was introduced earlier. Wayne Cunningham hails from my constituency. He’s seated in your gallery, Mr.

Speaker, and I’d ask that he stand and receive the warm welcome because he is truly the backbone of his wife. head: Members’ Statements The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-Cross. A Meaningful Life Collaborative Sculpture Mrs. Fritz: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Your recognition of persons with developmental disabilities in the Legislature rotunda this morning was a perfect way to open today’s session. We were all honoured to meet the many outstanding individuals responsible for creating the beautiful sculpture titled A Meaningful Life , that was showcased today.

Three years ago people let Alex Hillyard, CEO for PDD Calgary, know that they didn’t want to have a traditional business plan, that they wanted t o have something that was unique. Artists with developmental disabilities and their families talked about what a meaningful life meant to them, and five themes emerged: Connecting to Community, Contributing to Society, Independ- ence, Relationships, and Dig nity. Over the next two years they worked with acclaimed artist Jeff de Boer, and their vision soon became a realit y.

Twenty-four very talented artists with develop - mental disabilities created beautiful individual art pieces to represent each of the five t hemes. Their art was created with heart and soul. It was unveiled in Calgary on April 1, 2012, and A Meaningful Life sculpture was then created to capture this interwoven journey. It is clearly inspirational, and it is also memorable, Mr. Speaker. It is bu ilding a legacy for the PDD community because it speaks to the five themes, including dignity and respect, that are important for everyone in the community. We all want this for our families, our friends, our neighbours.

Congratulations and thank you to t he 24 artists, Jeff de Boer, PDD Calgary, Prospect Human Services Society, and the In - Definite Arts Society for your passion and your inspiration. I know that this morning you heard our Premier invite you to consider having the Alberta Legislature be a per manent home for your impressive sculpture, and we’re really hoping that you’ll agree. Congratulations. The Speaker: The hon. Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition. Ms Smith: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s a delight to be back.

I’m looking forward to debating issues with my colleagues not only on the opposition benches but also my colleagues opposite. Integrity in Government Ms Smith: Public trust is sacred. It is the foundation on which everything we do as elected officials rests. We all must work hard not only to earn it but also to preserve it and protect it. If we lose it, watch out; we won’t last long in these seats. Mr. Speaker, this government has a problem with trust. T he fall session ended three months ago with the government under a cloud of scandal and broken promises.

There are no less than four full-scale investigations currently under way into this govern- ment’s questionable conduct. Illegal campaign contributions, health care queue-jumping, privacy breaches, and, of course, the infamous tobacco litigation contract are all under scrutiny, with reports expected in this session. Now the Premier’s promise to run a balanced budget and stay out of debt lies in tatters next to the rest of the pledges that she campaigned on and she will not be able

March 5, 2013 Alberta Hansard 1357 to deliver. It’s no wonder that more and more Albertans are losing trust in their government every single day. This government has a monumental task ahead of itself to rebuild that trust. Trust is difficult to earn and almost impossible to get back once it’s been broken. We need to look no further than the baffling messages this Premier continues to send on the upcoming budget. She says that she won’t raise taxes or cut spending and will balance the budget, all while putting money back into savings and building everything that she’s promised to build. Mr.

Speaker, if you can find a grain of logic or consistency somewhere in there, please feel free to point it out. It all comes back to trust, Mr. Speaker, trust and credibility. You can only say one thing and do another for so long until you start to lose both. Now, my advice to the Premier is this: don’t promise what you can’t deliver, and if you do promise, make sure you do it. If you won’t listen to me, listen to Albertans because they are sending you the exact same message. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Grande Prairie-Smoky. Fallen Four in Memoriam Mr. McDonald: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Candles again dotted the landscape at th e Fallen Four Memorial Park in Mayerthorpe, Alberta, on March 3 as a community gathered once more to remember. They were there to bring light to the darkness that descended eight years ago when four young police officers were shot and killed in the Whitecourt-Ste. Anne constituency. I ask you to join me in remembering the vibrant lives of constables Peter Schiemann, Leo Johnston, Brock Myrol, and Anthony Gordon, that ended tragically on March 3, 2005.

We remember them, and our thoughts go out to their fami lies, their friends, their troop mates, their co -workers, and the communities of Whitecourt, Mayerthorpe, and the surrounding areas that embraced them. Thanks to the Mayerthorpe Fallen Four Memorial Society there is a beautiful six -acre memorial park that was built to honour Peter, Leo, Brock, and Anthony plus other police and military forces. It also reminds us that wounds heal and that new beauty is possible in time through nature and community spirit.

In this park four bronze statues stand on guard with a 24 -foot centre obelisk that salutes all peace officers, policemen, soldiers, and all who have given their lives for their uniform. The volunteers who built this park, maintain it, and bring everyone together for the candlelighting service are true Alber tans, proud of those who protect us and ensuring that those who are gone are never forgotten. Today I wear my Fallen Four pin with pride as a reminder that the brave are forever remembered, and I ask everyone in this House to do the same. Thank you, Mr.

Speaker. 1:50 head: Oral Question Period The Speaker: The Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition. Provincial Fiscal Position Ms Smith: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m delighted to be back for this third phase of the First Session. In my first -ever question in the Assembly last May I pointed out that there was already a $2 billion hole in the budget, and I warned that it could climb to as high as $5 billion, and here we are.

The Liberals want to raise income taxes to bridge the gap, the NDs want to raise royalties, we in the Wildrose think the government has enough revenue, but we don’t really know what the Premier thinks. She promised a balanced budget, more spending, no debt, increased saving, and no tax increases. How can all of this be possible? Ms Redford: Well, Mr. Speaker, on April 23 last year Albertans said that they wanted a government that they could trust to govern through good times and bad times. On April 23 last year times were good.

In fact, we knew even then, in a responsible way, that we were going to anticipate challenges with respect to our fiscal plan. I believe the Leader of the Opposition was at the same Economic Summit that I was at three weeks ago, February 9, when industry leaders stood up and said that what we’re seeing right now is unexpected. Regardless, we know that we can guide this province forward. That’s exactly what we’re going to do when we table the budget on Thursday to support families and commu- nities and infrastructure. Ms Smith: Mr.

Speaker, the Dow Jones just hit an all -time high today, not exactly a sign of hard times. Given that Alberta gets $40 billion in revenue but the Premier likes to spend $44 billion, isn’t the simplest solution simply to control government spending? Ms Redford: Mr. Speaker, it’s really interesti ng news with respect to the Dow Jones, but anyone who actually understands how an economy works understands that it’s a heck of a lot more complicated than that.

Albertans understand that, and Albertans understand a differential. [interjections] I would s uggest that if the Leader of the Opposition wants to see how a governing party builds a budget, pay attention on Thursday. The Speaker: Hon. members, I know you’ve forgotten a few rules from before. One of them is to be polite and respectful and honour the dignity of other members. Whether they’re asking a question or answering one, they deserve the same respect. Please proceed with your final supplemental. Ms Smith: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Albertans are looking for leadership, and they have yet to see it from this Premier. Can we have a clear commitment today that in the budget on Thursday the government will not try to fudge or hide or bury or obscure the true size of the cash deficit? Ms Redford: Mr. Speaker, our Minister of Finance has clearly set out every quarter since the last election and before that what the fiscal plan is and what the fiscal situation is for this government, and there is no reason to presume or to even suggest for any reason that that would be any different on Thursday.

The Speaker: Hon. leader, your second main set of questions. Ms Smith: I look forward to seeing whether the Finance minister keeps that commitment. Fiscal Responsibility Ms Smith: Mr. Speaker, the fall session ended three months ago with the government under a siege of scandals, ethical lapses, and spending blunders, and here we are again. The only thing that has changed is that we can’t ask questions about the tobacco litigation that’s being investigated, the illegal donations being exposed, the queue-jumping being probed, and the privacy breaches that are under review.

But we can ask about their disregard for fiscal prudence, which has us looking at a $4 billion, $5 billion, $6

1358 Alberta Hansard March 5, 2013 billion deficit. It’s no wonder Albertans have lost trust in this government. What big promise will they break next? Ms Redford: Mr. Speaker, you know what else hasn’t changed since last session? The tone from the opposition; not the questions but the tone.

I’ll tell you that as we move forward and we present the budget on Thursday, it has been built in consultation with Albertans based on what we talked about in the election that ended April 23 when Albertans elected a Progressive Conservative government that has built a successful economy that is leading Canada and continues to make that co mmitment. That is what Albertans voted for, and we will keep our promise to Albertans. The Speaker: The hon. Leader of the Opposition. Ms Smith: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m awfully sorry if my tone is hurting the Premier’s feelings.

Given that the Premier first characterized the fiscal mess as a revenue problem until she acknowledged, once at least anyway, that it may be a spending problem, how can Albertans have any confidence that the Premier can provide a solution if she doesn’t even understand the problem? Ms Redford: Mr.

Speaker, as usual what we see from the opposition is extremism and ideology that does not actually understand how to build a government that provides services to Albertans, continues to invest in families and communities, is prudent with taxpayers’ dollars, and also makes sure that we’re continuing to build our economy and open markets outside of our borders. That’s what Albertans voted for. That is what we will deliver. That is what people will see on Thursday. Ms Smith: Mr. Speaker, running balanced budgets isn’t an issue of being right wing or left wing; it’s an issue of being competent or incompetent.

Now, if the Premier is ruling out a tax increase and she’s committed to meeting all of her spending promises and she’s going to balance the budget and she won’t admit to taking us back into debt, how can we expect that this budget is going to be an honest reflection of Alberta’s true fiscal situation? Ms Redford: Well, Mr. Speaker, as I said, I’ve got an awful lot of confidence in our Minister of Finance. The other thing I will say is that Albertans have confidence in that minister. When we start talking about decisions that we need to make in government, we will build community and we will build infrastructure.

You know some of the places where we’ll build that infrastructure? Even though that opposition party says that we need to cut back on infrastructure, we are investing in schools in opposition ridings and in government ridings to ensure that kids have places to go to school, to ensure that there are hospitals being built so that people have access to health care services everywhere in this community. That is good government. It is not ideological. It’s balancing the interests of Albertans in a way that allows everyone to thrive in the future. The Speaker: Hon. leader, your third and final set of questions.

Ms Smith: Clearly, the Premier hasn’t read our 10 -year, $50 billion, debt-free capital plan. I’ll make sure to send her a copy. Medevac Services Ms Smith: Mr. Speaker, the Health minister just keeps making a mess of things. You remember how he bungled the closing of the Carmangay seniors’ centre and then blamed AHS for a communi - cation mess? Then, of course, he claims that the health expense scandal is all in the pa st, but it’s clear that the lavish spending continues.

He’s botched the negotiations with the doctors, created issues with rural ambulance service, and now there are medevac concerns in Alberta’s north. Now, I know the Premier issued a statement today trying to reassure people, but we’re not convinced. What’s the plan? Ms Redford: Mr. Speaker, let’s remember that medevac is used for two purposes. It’s used to provide emergency support for patients, and it’s also used to allow patients to commute with their doctors, when they’re already in the health care system, to Edmonton for treatment.

The Health Quality Council gave us a very specific plan with 18 points, 18 recommendations, that we have followed completely to ensure that medevac in northern Alberta cont inues to be available and safe and will support families. The worst thing that we can do – and, unfortunately, we continue to see it – is to fearmonger and scare people. It is not necessary. The Health Quality Council has said that medevac will work, and we have confidence that it will. Ms Smith: I’m still going to try to seek some clarity, Mr. Speaker.

Given the release from the Premier that says that “Government of Alberta aircraft will begin flying out of the Edmonton International Airport on March 15” a nd given it also says that “government employees will no longer be boarding flights at the City Centre airport”, it makes me wonder: will government planes full of cabinet ministers still be landing at the Edmonton municipal airport? [interjections] The Speaker: Hon. members, the Premier has the floor. 2:00 Ms Redford: No. Ms Smith: Mr.

Speaker, you have to understand that we often have these lawyerly nuances from our Premier, so I just want to get a firm commitment, because the Premier’s statement wasn’t really all that clear, that all government aircraft will end service in and out of the City Centre Airport on March 15. Ms Redford: Mr. Speaker, this question has been asked; this question has been answered. This statement has been made for the past month. This is simply another example of wasting time in this Legislature on issues that are not directly related when the information is clearly available.

However, what I would suggest is that if the opposition is concerned, maybe they’d like to send one of their researchers out with a camera to start taking pictures from the 15th on to see whether or not what I’m saying is actually the truth. The Speaker: The hon. leader of the Alberta Liberal opposition. Dr. Sherman: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s good to be back. Provincial Tax Policy Dr. Sherman: It’s well known that the Premier was once a great admirer of progressive leaders such as Jo e Clark and Peter Lougheed, who believed in tax fairness. Even Ralph Klein used it to balance the budget.

But now the government of the richest province in Canada is broke because it abandoned progressive income tax in favour of a 10 per cent flat tax. To the Premier: why

March 5, 2013 Alberta Hansard 1359 is it okay for the government to give away billions to the wealthy few while asking everyday Albertans to foot the bill? Ms Redford: Mr. Speaker, it’s ridiculous for the hon. leader to stand up and say that this province is broke. We have a heritage fund. We have savings. Every single citizen of Alberta has the right to be entitled to say that we have net assets in this province. We are the only province in Canada with net assets on a per capita basis.

One of the reasons that we are in that position is because we’ve ensured that we have a competitive tax position to the rest of the country. We don’t need to change it, and we’re not going to. Dr. Sherman: Mr. Speaker, what’s ridiculous is that in a boom they can’t balance the budget. The Pre mier doesn’t have the courage to ask the wealthy to a pay a little more. That would help the Premier to keep her promise of sustainable, predictable funding for health care, education, municipalities.

Instead, the Premier is ignoring common sense, reason, and the 70 per cent of Albertans who are calling for a progressive income tax instead of cuts. Why, Premier? Why are you ignoring 70 per cent of Albertans, who want tax fairness? Ms Redford: Mr. Speaker, we have made a commitment to be prudent, to be responsible, and to be accountable. We are tabling a budget on Thursday that is going to ensure that we make that commitment to Albertans so that we can keep building for families and communities, we can do it in a responsible way, and we can continue to grow t he economy.

We can do all of that because we have the understanding, which years of experience has brought to us, that if you integrate the work that you’re doing, you can make this effective, and you can ensure that generations will continue to succeed in this province. The Speaker: The hon. leader. Final supplemental. Dr. Sherman: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Finance minister said that it was important for this government to show how lean and mean it can be. Again to the Premier.

Who exactly is your govern - ment planning on being mean to: nurses, teachers, students, the mayor of Calgary, or seniors trying to get more than one bath a week? Clearly, the government is pretty nice to their wealthy donors. The Speaker: Hon. Premier, if you wish. Ms Redford: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [interjections] That’s absolutely right. There was a question in that.

On Thursday we are tabling a budget that is going to ensure that we are prudent and that we are responsible, that we are continuing to provide sustainable funding to vulnerable Albertans, and to make sure that we’re making the right decisions this year to ensure success for future generations. That’s what Albertans asked us to do last year, and that’s what we’ll do. The Speaker: The hon. leader of the New Democrat opposition. Health Care Funding Mr. Mason: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. You just can’t trust this PC government to keep its promises.

During the election the PCs made many promises to improve health care, including 140 new family care clinics and 5,000 new long -term care spaces, but while they promised there wouldn’t be service cuts to health care, we’ve already seen layoffs and cutbacks across Alberta. To the Premier: considering that her government will not deliver a throne speech to outline their priorities, can the Premier explain why she’s already broken her health care promises to Albertans? Ms Redford: Mr. Speaker, this may very well be the perception of the leader of this party, but it is not the reality.

The fact is that we as a government are continuing to invest in the services that matter to Albertans, including health care and including education. Those are the choices that we’ve made because we understand that those are Alberta’s priorities. The budget on Thursday will clearly set out those priorities. Those priorities reflect what Albertans asked us to do on April 23 last year, what they talked t o our Minister of Finance and Associate Minister of Finance about all through the summer. Also, consultations with respect to health care were fundamental to the decisions that we made.

All of that will be reflected on Thursday. [interjections] The Speaker: The hon. leader. Mr. Mason: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Well, I think they’re just thumping past the graveyard. Albertans simply cannot trust this government to keep its promises on health care. Given that the WestView hospital in Stony Plain is f acing a $450,000 cut to its services and the transi - tion unit at the Royal Alexandra hospital has been closed, will the Premier admit that this government has failed Albertans with a string of broken health care promises? Ms Redford: You know, Mr.

Speaker, what we have in this province is a system of health care that allows people to get some of the best health care in the world, and that’s because of the doctors and the nurses and the researchers that we have here. One of the reasons that we’re going to be able to continue to maintain that level of service is because we have people that are providing us with advice, and we have a Minister of Health that understands that we need to make decisions along with Alberta Health Services that allow us to streamline services and deliver services in an effective way because we’re concerned about health outcomes.

It’s why we’re investing in primary health care, it’s why we’re investing in aligning services, and it’s why we have facilities such as the Stollery and the A lberta Children’s hospital, that provide services in a very different way to families. It’s effective. The Speaker: The hon. leader. Final supplemental. Mr. Mason: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Well, Albertans just can’t trust this government to keep its promises on health care.

Given that this PC government promised that they would meet the needs of thousands of seniors waiting for long -term care and given that the government is closing public long -term care facilities across the province, including in Carmangay, Bashaw, and Red Deer, when will the Premier admit that her government has failed Albertans with yet another broken promise? The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Health. Mr. Horne: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This government is certainly not failing Albertans when it comes to continuing care or any other part of the health care system.

This government has repeatedly kept its promise to add a thousand new continuing care spaces per year. We are on track to reach our commitment of 5,000 spaces over five y ears. We can look across the health care system in many other areas for reminders of how the government continues to invest and how our dedicated health care professionals continue to deliver.

1360 Alberta Hansard March 5, 2013 The Speaker: The hon. Member for Lac La Biche-St. Paul -Two Hills. Medevac Services (continued) Mr. Saskiw: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday the Health Quality Council reported that this government’s decision on EMS was sloppy and mismanaged. Today the government is poised to make an even bigger mistake by moving med evac to the Edmonton International Airport. In 10 days this fundamental change will affect all northern Albertans, adding at least 40 to 50 minutes in emergency wait times.

STARS air ambulance says that it’s too early to know if they can fulfill the new role envisioned by AHS. Will the Premier do the right thing, delay the relocation of medevac, and consult with doctors to ensure that any changes to medevac services will not cost lives? Ms Redford: Mr. Speaker, this fearmongering is not constructive. Doctors have been involved. Technical advisers who actually understand emergency services have been involved. Clearly, a decision has been made by the people of Edmonton and the city of Edmonton that we are no longer able to use the municipal airport.

Because of that, we have made the responsible decisions, the right decisions, and the decisions that will continue to protect families in northern Alberta. Medevac will work. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Saskiw: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Given that a total of 58 doctors have signed a letter saying that the relocation of medevac will cost lives, do you think it is okay for this government to shortchange northern Albertans and put their lives at risk when you can just delay the decision to explore every possibility in order to save lives? 2:10 The Speaker: Please be reminded that questions that are speculative ought not be asked in that way. We understand the intent of it – we don’t normally call for opinions – but if some - body from the front bench wants to answer it, go ahead. Mr. Horne: Well, Mr.

Speaker, this government can do a lot better than the speculative questions that are being proffered by the other side. The opinions of people that live in the communities across the province are going to be informed dire ctly by the quality and the accuracy of information that is presented to them by all of us as Members of the Legislative Assembly. Mr. Speaker, planning for this move began well over a year ago, when Edmonton city council announced its decision to close t he City Centre Airport.

I can assure this House as the Minister of Health that there is absolutely no compromise to patient safety or quality of care as a result of this transition, and anything short of that in a message to the public is fearmongering. Mr. Saskiw: Fifty-eight doctors say differently. Given that this Premier has previously said – and I quote – that we need to ensure that we are providing as a provincial government the services that northern Alberta needs, how can Albertans trust this Premier if she won’t even keep just this one promise and provide northern Albertans with timely access to emergency medical care?

Listen to the doctors and delay the closure. Listen to the doctors. Ms Redford: Mr. Speaker, let’s remember that north of Edmonton there are thriving communities with hospitals and doctors and health infrastructure currently. It is not as if everyone who lives in northern Alberta, the minute something happens, is shipped on a plane to Edmonton in order to have their health care needs met. We as a Progressive Conservative government have made a commitment to health care in northern Alberta.

We are continuing to make that investment in things such as the new Grande Prairie regional hospital, enhancements in Fort McMurray. We know from ex perience that strong health care professionals across northern Alberta are providing effective health care services. Medevac is part of that, it will continue to be, and Albertans can trust that. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-East. Mr. Amery: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Now we get to the real questions. Keystone Pipeline Project Mr. Amery: Mr. Speaker, last week the U.S.

State Department issued a draft environmental impact study on Keystone XL which concluded that the project would not significantly contribute to the warming of the planet. Despite this, some critics still suggest that Alberta has not done enough to help push this project through and bolster much-needed market access. My question is for the hon. Premier. Considering that this fight is n’t over, what is the Premier doing to help get Keystone XL on track? Ms Redford: Well, Mr.

Speaker, I’d actually think that the opposition would be interested in this since they spend all their time talking about how not enough has been done. One of the things that was really important in the environmental impact assessment that the State Department issued on Friday was that there was Alberta data in that, data that was provided by the government of Alberta as an intervenor with respect to the hearings in Nebraska and the hearings in the regulatory process in the United States.

So not only has there been political involvement – working with Ambassador Jacobson and Ambassador Doer, my four trips to Washington, which we’re going to continue to pursue on the a dvice of Ambassador Doer – but to know that the data that’s in that report is having compelling reasons with respect to environmental impact is very important for Keystone, and we’re still very optimistic. Speaker’s Ruling Use of Electronic Devices in the Chamber The Speaker: Clearly, someone has an alarm clock or something else that has rung three different times now. Whoever it is, please don’t put it on silent; just put it off.

Otherwise, you and that piece of equipment will be asked to be put off for a while. Whoever has that going, please stop it now. Thank you. The hon. member. Keystone Pipeline Project (continued) Mr. Amery: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Also to the hon. Premier: with all this attention being paid to Keystone and the U.S., has the government lost sight of market diversification and seeking out new markets? Ms Redford: Mr. Speaker, the work that’s going on right now with respect to Alberta’s export economy is fundamental, and that takes a number of forms. The first, of course, is continuing to

March 5, 2013 Alberta Hansard 1361 pursue other pipeline options. We’re having tremendous success right now and good progress with Premier Alward in New Brunswick and Premier Marois in Quebec. We think it’s going to be very important to ensure that we get Alberta’s product to tidewater as soon as possible so that Albertans, who own the resource, get a fair price for that resource. That’s fundamental. The other work that we’re doing is with respect to refining and upgrading so that not only do we ha ve other markets to go to with bitumen but with other products that would also be able to access different markets.

It’s fundamental to diversification, and we’re going to continue to do that. The Speaker: The hon. member. Final supplemental. Mr. Amery: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Also to the Premier: given that there are some who believe that the Canadian energy strategy is nothing more than highbrow motherhood and apple pie, can the Premier tell me how a Canadian energy strategy will help establish increased market access? [interjection] Ms Redford: Mr.

Speaker, I am not at all surprised to see the opposition jeer at this, but the reason we’re having success with respect to the eastern pipeline, the reason we’re able to work with people like Premier Wall, who is in Washington today talking about Alberta’s environmental record, is that Canadians understand that working together, developing an integrated energy economy, is our greatest opportunity for economic success so that we can continue to be a leader in energy. I do know that, very particularly, the opposition a year ago were quite surprised by this, didn’t understand what it was, clearly still don’t.

But we do, Canadians do, the Prime Minister does, the Premiers do, and this is what’s going to lead to success for Alberta and Canada. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-Fish Creek. Emergency Medical Services Mrs. Forsyth: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are to the Premier. This government continues to make a mess of our health care system, and it continues to lose the trust of Albertans. Yesterday’s Health Quality Council report shows that this govern- ment has its fingerprints all over deteriorating patient care when it comes to the EMS system.

Despite recommendations there still remain outstanding wait times throughout Alberta. Here in Edmonton the response time has continued to increase since 2009. That is precious time that can mean the difference between life and death. Does this government have any actual plans to improve response times? The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Health. Mr. Horne: Well, thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Obviously, the hon. member missed the substance of the news conference that was held yesterday, where the Health Quality Council presented a very clear road map to address many of the issues with ground ambulances.

As this House will know, in 20 09 a previous govern- ment made a policy decision, wh ich we support, to recognize the fact that EMS is part of health care and should be part of our provincial health care system. It is true that there were some delays in consolidation of dispatch services in the province and some of the other very large-scale initiatives that are involved in creating a provincial EMS system, but this review provides a clear road map, and I’ve provided clear direction to Alberta Health Services to implement these recommendations. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mrs. Forsyth: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Given that FOIP docu- ments reveal that the amount of time ambulances in Edmonton are on red alert has ballooned from a total of three hours in 2009 to 76 hours four years later, when is the government specifically going to make sure that patients don’t suffer? Mr. Horne: Well, Mr. Speaker, the very dedicated doctors and nurses and other professionals that work in our system make sure, in fact, that patients’ needs are addressed and are addressed well each and every day.

The hon. member should know that wait times in emergency de partments are primarily a function of flow within the emergency department and in the hospital generally, not a function of the EMS system.

Alberta Health Services made some very great strides in the last year in reducing occupancy rates in our hospitals, in eliminating much of the need for alternate levels of care placements for people who are waiting for continuing care, and in many other initiatives that have greatly improved the flow within our system at the same time as we see a huge growth in population and the number of visits, consequen- tially, to ER departments. Mrs. Forsyth: Mr.

Speaker, given that this government seems to be having trouble understanding the impact of minutes in emergency care and the danger of leaving our first response teams on red alert, when will this government stop running out the clock and put the interests of patients first? Mr. Horne: Well, Mr. Speaker, we most certainly do put the interests of patients first, and pa rt of that involves looking at objective evidence, taking expert advice, and forming opinions and making decisions based on th at as opposed to hearsay and other measures that are intended, I can only see, to scare the public. Mr.

Speaker, we have a very, very busy health care system in Alberta. It’s a function of our ec onomic prosperity. It’s a function of the facts such as the number of Albertans – I believe 100,000 came to this province last year – and it’s also a function of our commitment to continue to invest in health care. The issues that are discussed in the Health Quality Council report are issues that you would find in any major, growing centre across the country. What’s important is the action that we’re taking to deal with those. That is what Albertans can take away from it. The Speaker: The hon.

Member for Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo, followed by Calgary-Mountain View. 2:20 Medevac Services (continued) Mr. Allen: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As we’ve heard, the City Centre Airport is closing, and medevac services are being relo- cated to the Edmonton International Airport. The Health Quality Council of Alberta review stated that “the main patient safety concern is that an increase in j ourney time for critically-ill . . . patients could have a negative effect on their well-being.” The U of A hospital is a 30-minute drive from the EIA, and the Royal Alex is a 37-minute drive from the EIA.

To the Minister of Health: how can you assure northern Albertans that your depart- ment is addressing transportation tim es that will be increased as a result of the medevac relocation?

1362 Alberta Hansard March 5, 2013 Mr. Horne: Well, Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for the question. When Edmonton city council announced their decision to close the City Centre Airport, we asked the Health Quality Council to conduct a study of the most appropriate site for the medevac facility immediately. That report was completed over a year ago. As was mentioned earlier, it contains 18 recommenda- tions. One of the things that it emphasizes and that we continue to emphasize is that the vast majority of these flights are for scheduled services that are provided in our major tertiary care hospitals.

The other thing, of course, Mr. Speaker, that’s important is to recognize, as members opposite do not, that before patie nts are medevacked, they are actually in the health care system. They have been treated, they have been stabilized, and with the aid of the Health Quality Council recommendations, we know they will be cared for properly in transit and upon their arrival. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Allen: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Also to the Minister of Health.

The Health Quality Council of Alberta reviewed the reloca tion of medevac services and made 18 recommendations to ensure patient safety is upheld after the serv ices are moved. How can you assure my constituents that these recommendations are being acted on and not swept beneath the carpet? Mr. Horne: Mr. Speaker, we have tracked and reported on the progress in implementing those 18 recommendations. As the hon. member would know, all of them were accepted. My understanding is that almost all of them have now been implemented. There are a few that are in the process of final implementation.

With the aid of that and with the knowledge of the fact that our patients’ care begins before they leave for their medevac flight and with the knowledge that physicians and other health care professionals are supervi sing that transit and that care, Albertans can have great confidence in the quality and safety of this system. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Allen: Thank you. To the same minister. Paramedics in my constituency have told me that the patients with sever e trauma are already being treated in our Fort McMurray hospital without having to be transferred to Edmonton.

How can our hospital continue to play a key role to prevent transfers? Mr. Horne: Mr. Speaker, as the hon. the Premier mentioned in answer to an earlier question, we have some fine, fine health care facilities across northern Alberta. Northern Alberta residents have access to CT scanners. They have access to other specialized care in or near their home communities. That care assists us in providing as many resources as possible to prevent the need for patients to be transferred for scheduled services here in Edmonton.

But when patients do require that transfer, we know that the medevac system is safe, it’s of high quality, and it operates efficientl y in order to bring them here for the care we need. We will continue to invest, Mr. Speaker, in hospital expansions in Grande Prairie and in other communities. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary -Mountain View , followed by Edmonton-Calder. Emergency Medical Services (continued) Dr. Swann: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

At a time when Alberta has increases in population, including seniors, and increased com - plaints about the lack of community care, this government has frozen home -care services, which means an increase in EMS service demands and emergency room visits. Does the minister not see how cutting home -care services is going to worsen the EMS situation? Mr. Horne: Mr. Speaker, home-care services have not been cut in Alberta.

Last year in the budget thi s government committed 45 million additional dollars to providing enhanced home-care services to allow patients who can be appropriately treated in the community to come home sooner. Alberta Health Services has made some very important operational changes in the last few months that will see greater numbers of residents in various communities across the province having access to home care who otherwise would not have, as a result of more efficient home care delivery.

We know and the hon. member knows that m uch of the future of continuing care in this province remains contingent on continued investment in home care. We’re committed to keep doing that. Dr. Swann: Of course, the minister doesn’t mention that most of that money went to private providers. Seven Albertan communities have EMS staff that are shared between fire and ambulance, integrated. It’s working both efficiently and well. Tell us how your EMS plan will strengthen, not destroy, the relationship between EMS and fire. Mr. Griffiths: Mr.

Speaker, at the press conference yesterday we discussed this matter, and I made it very clear that volunteer fire departments and our fire services are very closely tied with our municipalities, who also contract and decide who operates 911. It’s very important that they still have control at the local level to manage that. I’ve appointed our associate minister to work with our fire services to make sure we have the integration necessary so that every single person in every single community knows that when they pick up 911, whether it’s fire, police, or ambulance, they’re going to get the care they need. Dr.

Swann: To the Health minister: how will the problem of poaching ambulance services from rural areas to urban, leaving rural areas vulnerable, change under this plan? An Hon. Member: Good question. Mr. Horne: Well, Mr. Speaker, it is a good question, and this is an issue that the Health Quality Council talked about at length yesterday, when the report was released. The answer is to complete dispatch consolidation ac ross the province. We began with over 35 dispatch services across Alberta. That number has been gradually reduced.

The end result will be consolidation of dispatch in two main centres, Edmonton and Calgary, with a satellite service in Peace River. The disp atch consolidation allows EMS staff to see all of the ambulance fleet across the province. It allows them to strategically and appropriately deploy ambulance services as close as possible to the scene where ambulance services are required and to enable that backup to be provided. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Calder , followed by Innisfail-Sylvan Lake.

March 5, 2013 Alberta Hansard 1363 Education Funding Mr. Eggen: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. You cannot trust this government to stand up for Alberta schools. Public education in Alberta has been a train wreck, and the trail of broken promises leads straight to the top. This PC government won an election promising st able funding for schools, full -day kindergarten, and new schools in places like Fort McMurray, which hasn’t seen a new public school in 26 years. My question is to the Minister of Education. Why is this government breaking its promises to improve Alberta schools at a time when they need it most?

The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mr. Bhullar: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Train wreck? Really? You have the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom who says that Alberta’s public education system is amongst the best in the world. Others say that Alberta’s public education system is the best in the English -speaking world. We invest very heavily per child in Alberta, we have the best paid teachers in the country, and we are proud that we’ve got the best standard across this country. Mr.

Eggen: Well, you know, given that the Education minister used teachers’ private e- mails to contact them with his PC ad campaign and continues to interfere with local negotiations by telling school boards what they can and cannot offer teachers a nd given that this minister, as well, blew off a golden opportunity to settle with teachers in the fall, when will this government take responsibility for the failure of provincial contract talks and stop interfering with local negotiations? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mr. Bhullar: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Given that that member calls the hard work of Alberta teachers and school administrators and our parents and our students a train wreck, I think that member over there really needs to check the facts and really understand that we have one of the best education systems in not only Canada but the English-speaking world. We’re proud of that. We put forward a fair and reasonable offer to our teachers. We’re disappointed that it was not accepted, but we have a strong system. We’re proud of that, and we’re going to continue to maintain it. The Speaker: Hon.

Member for Edmonton-Strathcona , you rose on a point of order at 2:29. It’s been registered. The hon. Member for Edmonton-Calder. Mr. Eggen: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Well, you know, given that there are less than 50 modules available for the more than 500 that are needed across this province and given that this minister had limited modules and portables so that hundreds of families, for example in south Edmonton, had their lives turned upside down by having to move their school kids from school in the middle of the next year because of the shortage, why does this government not take action to prevent overcrowding and start improving Alberta scho ols instead of empty, empty, windbag promises like you’re giving here today? 2:30 The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mr.

Bhullar: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Those that make promises are those that the public doesn’t trust to run a strong education system like we have. The fact is that we have actions to demonstrate the success of Alberta’s public education system. It’s a great system. We’ve committed to continued infrastructure invest ment, 50 new schools. I would ask the member to pay attention to the budget on Thursday, where we continue to show that we’re investing in families, that we’re investing in our communities. We’re going to make sure that Alberta is one of the best places to live, to work, and to go to school.

The Speaker: The hon. Member for Innisfail -Sylvan Lake , followed by Edmonton-Ellerslie. Supports for Couples Aging in Place Mrs. Towle: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Recentl y I travelled to 23 towns across Alberta to hear directly from seniors. I spoke with a 91-year-old woman whose husband of 68 years had Alzheimer’s. He was in acute care awaiting placement, and she was able to visit and care for him. Sadly, the acute-care b ed was needed, sending her husband to a bed more than a hundred kilometres away. That’s 68 years of marriage dissolved by a single stroke of the govern- ment pen.

A month later the man died all alone. To the Associate Minister of Seniors: will you please re visit the policy that forces families to be split apart so that no other couple has to leave a spouse dying more than an hour away? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mr. VanderBurg: Thank you for the question, Mr. Speaker. Everybody knows how well we’ve done over the last number of years adding continuing care spaces to our communities.

Whether it’s in Hanna, whether it’s in Lacombe, whether it’s in Calgary, whether it’s in Red Deer, whether it’s in Boyle, whether it’s in Sundre, we’re going to continue to add spaces around this province like you’ve never seen before. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mrs. Towle: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Sadly, that’s not the truth. People are being removed from their communities.

Given that this government is ignoring the trend of separating couples and is all talk and no action on allowing Albertans to age in place together, when will the decision -makers on that side of the House realize that seniors bui lt this province and make it a priority to ensure that all couples are able to age together? Mr. VanderBurg: Mr. Speaker, the dignity and respect for our seniors aging in place is very, very important to me and very important to our government.

Every one of the spaces that I just talked about, every one of those communities where we opened up new living spaces had opportunities and have opportunities for couples. Every one of our spaces going forward – we just closed the ASLI grant on February 22. All of those communities will have an opportunity for couples to age in place. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mrs. Towle: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Given that we heard of another senior who was told that his wife would be sent 100 kilometres east of Hanna and the husband would be sent 100 kilometres west to Sundre, leaving them more than two hours apart after 60 years of marriage, will the Associate Minister of Seniors trust Albertans and end the policy that forces seniors into divorce by nursing home? Mr. VanderBurg: Like I stated earlier, Mr. Speaker, we always strive to keep people as close to their homes as possible. The health care providers will always determine the best place, the

1364 Alberta Hansard March 5, 2013 safest place for an individual to go to. I have to say that it’s not always in our own communities in remote places in the province that we have that safe place for them to be discharged to from an acute-care facility, but we always strive to get them home, as close as possible to their families and their loved ones. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Ellerslie, followed by Calgary-Shaw. Medevac Services (continued) Mr. Bhardwaj: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

People in northern Alberta are calling for the province to expropriate the City Centre Airport in order to keep it open for medevac services from northern Alberta. My questions are to the Minister of Municipal Affairs. Would this even be legal for the province to do? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mr. Griffiths: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The province does have the legal ability to expropriate the land utilizing the Expropriation Act, but anytime the province considers utilizing the Expro- priation Act, we do it with a lot of consideration for the landowners, in this case the city of Edmonton.

I find it incredibly ironic that Keith Wilson, who’s the advocate that’s associated with the party opposite, is travelling around telling everybody that we should just expropriate, do the largest expropriation in the history of the province, with no consideration for the city of Edmonton. We protect property rights, and we respect individuals’ ability to utilize those property rights. The Speaker: Let’s be careful about referencing people who aren’t here and able to reply. The hon. member. Mr. Bhardwaj: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Given the fact that it’s legal to do so, Mr.

Minister, if the province were to expropriate this land, what would you expect it to cost? Mr. Griffiths: Mr. Speaker, we’ve heard an incredible variation in the numbers. I know that our department has reviewed it. This would have to be a process, if we followed through with it, that would go to a board for a hearing. It’s very difficult to assess.

We have some people who would support expropriating the land, saying that it’s only a hundr ed million dollars, and we have the city of Edmonton, that says that it’s close to $2 billion, and we have other people that say that if you have to pay the municipality for the lost tax revenue that would come from such a large, valuable piece of property on the outskirts of the downtown of a large metropolitan centre, it could be $6 billion. We don’t exactly know, but it’s a lot of money when it does not impact one iota the delivery of medevac services to the north. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr.

Bhardwaj: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Given the concerns of people in northern Alberta about continued and timely access to medical facilities in Edmonton, will you consider undertaking a detailed study into the potential for expropriating this land and keeping the medevac services running? Mr. Griffiths: Well, Mr. Speaker, the short answer to that question is no, and the long answer is no.

It would cost money to do a detailed study, and quite frankly none of it impacts medevac services, so we’re going to allow the city of Edmonton to develop the land as they see fit and continue to pour our attention into supplying medevac services to people in the north. The Speaker: Thank you. The hon. Member for Calgary -Shaw, followed by Calgary - South East. Subsidized Social Housing Program Abuse Mr. Wilson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Last week we learned about six -figure income earners living in taxpayer -subsidized social housing – some of the residents in question are earning as much $112,000 per year – this gross abuse of a program in place to assist Alberta’s hard -working low -income earners. It appears this program is being gamed by individuals with more than enough means to support themselves while less fortunate Albertans are left to compete for affordable housing. T o the Minister of Municipal Affairs: how did these egregious cases of abuse just sail through your department undetected for over a decade? Mr. Griffiths: You know, Mr.

Speaker, it’s incredibly sad that the opposition would attack the Heart River Housing f oundation, who manages those housing complexes for those who need affordable housing.

Now, I know that they’d rented it out at market value – they give the implication that they gave it to them for free – in a very small community, and the Heart River Hous ing foundation felt that they weren’t sure if they wanted to sell it because they were always worried that a week later somebody who needed affordable housing in the community might need it and that it was better to rent it out at market rate than to close it and leave no options for those who need affordable housing in that community. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Wilson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Given that the ministry’s own website suggests that the housing programs are responsible for “ensuring Alber tans of modest means have access to affordable housing that meets their basic needs,” can the minister explain how on earth a six-figure salary met the criteria for modest means and why Albertans should trust in your ability to manage the program? Mr. Griffiths: Mr. Speaker, let’s try this again.

We have a very small community, where they just have a couple of units for affordable housing, and nobody needed the housing for 11 years, so it was rented out at market rate rather than sitting there vacant and de teriorating. They thought that they could get some value, and that money was poured into other affordable housing units to support those in need. I’d like to know what this member would like to do. Would he like to sell it off and leave that community in the lurch with no affordable housing or maybe just leave it vacant and let it deteriorate? This is sound management.

They’re going to evaluate their properties to see if they need to sell it or keep it for that community. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Wilson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the Finance minister: given that an individual earning $112,000 a year was somehow deemed by this government as having a revenue problem, is this how you can look Albertans in the eye with a straight face and

March 5, 2013 Alberta Hansard 1365 suggest that a government earning $40 billion a year also has a revenue problem? [interjections] 2:40 Mr. Horner: Hon. members, the question was to the Finance minister. We thought he was going to talk about the application process, so cool your jets. Mr. Speaker, I will be honestly telling Albertans on Thursday about the financial situation of this province and the drop in revenue that we have had and experienced in this province, as had just about every jurisdiction in the country, including Canada’s GDP. The Speaker: Hon.

Member for Airdrie, you rose on a point of order at 2:39 during the Minister of Municipal Affairs’ first answer, and that has been noted. head: Members’ Statements (continued) The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-Hawkwood. National Social Work Week Mr. Luan: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m rising today to recognize that March 3 to March 9 is National Social Work Week, like hon. Minister Dave Hancock has already mentioned. This is a time when we can acknowledge registered social workers for their contribution to our province. As you know, I was a social worker myself before being elected.

This is a helping profession, and I am passionate about it. Social workers help families stay healthy and resilient, help children to be safe, and assist others to make positive changes in their lives. This often results in creating caring and strong communities in our province. Mr. Speaker, as Albertans we’re always proud of our richness in natural resources. We are rich in energy production, but I like to think that we’re also rich in caring people and communities. Alberta is being recognized increasingly in the world as one of the best places to live, to work, and to raise a family.

I think the work that social workers have done over the years has definitely contributed to that. The theme of this year’s Social Work Week is Advocating for a Just and Equitable Alberta. Our government is very privileged to work in partnership with the Alberta College of Social Workers to promote this cause further. Strategies are under way to help develop and maintain a skilled workplace and leadership within the social work field. On this occasion, Mr. Speaker, I want to encourage all Albertans to join our government in saying thank you to social workers in their community for the differences they are making.

Thank you. Volunteer Support for Stranded Motorists Mrs. Jablonski: Mr. Speaker, Albertans believe in the good- neighbour policy, and on Sunday, March 3, when a powerful winter storm hit southern Alberta and forced the RCMP to divert travellers off the highway into the nearest town, the people of Claresholm, Fort Macleod, Nanton, and Oyen proved that they are indeed good neighbours. I asked for a list of the volunteers from these communities so that I could honour them on behalf of the government for their extraordinary acts of kindness as they sheltered, comforted, and fed people from a disastrous blizzard.

I received three pages of names of businesses and individuals who worked alongside the first responders and their community council members to help those who were stranded. Claresholm Fire Chief Kelly Starling told me that there were over 350 registrations at the reception centre, and people were still lined up to register when the highway finally opened after 6 p.m. He told m e that the town CEO, Kris Holebeck, did not hesitate to open the arena for shelter and to call on council members and town employees to help the stranded travellers.

It didn’t take long for many other volunteers to step up in these communities. They assis ted with registrations, organizing billets, serving meals, and pushing cars out of ditches. Kieth Carlson’s Roy’s Place restaurant donated 200 hot servings of hearty stew, almost worth being stranded for. Individual families opened their homes for those who were too weary to travel and billeted them overnight. Mr. Speaker, although I told you the story of Claresholm, I know that this story repeated itself in the communities of Fort Macleod, Nanton, and Oyen.

We want to thank the RCMP, the fire departments, the municipal councils, the volunteers, the churches, the Royal Canadian Legions, the service organizations, and all the businesses who stepped up and donated everything from shelter and a shoulder to lean on to warm blankets and hot food. Although there’s not enough time to name everyone, you know who you are, and in your communities they know who you are. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Lac La Biche-St. Paul -Two Hills. Medevac Services to Northern Alberta Mr. Saskiw: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Medevac services to northern Alberta in a very literal sense are the lifeblood of their communities. So often we speak about northern Alberta and the tremendous economic potential that lies beneath the soil, but I think this government has forgotten about the people who actually live on top of it. I don’t know how else to explain this reckless, irresponsible, and utterly absurd decision to reroute medevac services away from the downtown airport to the Edmonton International Airport effective March 15. The bottom line here is this.

The rerouting of medevac services is going to add between 40 and 50 minutes to every emergency. That’s between 40 and 50 minutes added to a dying patient’s trip to the hospital before he or she even sees an OR. That’s between 40 and 50 minutes that he or she won’t spend in life -saving care but in the back of an ambulance on a highway. Mr. Speaker, this isn’t about rural versus urban or province versus city. It’s about right versus wrong. To allow thi s decision to proceed and deny residents of my constituency and all northern Albertans the life - saving health care they need is just wrong.

In her party’s leadership race the Premier said, and I quote: we need to ensure that we are providing as a provinci al government the services northern Alberta needs. Premier, I’m going to hold you to those words. Northern Alberta needs those services. They have a right to those services. The decision to reroute to the Edmonton International Airport isn’t going to cut i t. Don’t take my word for it. Take it from the 58 doctors who put their names to a letter urging you to reconsider. Delay this decision, Premier. On behalf of the residents of northern Alberta I am pleading with you. Keep your promise for once.

Do what is right for once. Don’t cut northern Alberta off from life-saving health care. Thank you.

1366 Alberta Hansard March 5, 2013 head: Presenting Reports by head: Standing and Special Committees The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-McClung. Mr. Xiao: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the chair o f the Standing Committee on Legislative Offices I’m pleased to table five copies of the committee report, dated March 2013, containing its recom - mendation for the appointment of the Public Interest Commis - sioner. The copies of this report are being distri buted to the members today. Thank you. head: Notices of Motions The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Human Services. Mr. Hancock: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise today to give oral notice of the introduction of Bill 11, the Appropriation (Supplementary Supply) Act, 2013. head: Tabling Returns and Reports The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Centre. Ms Blakeman: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am very pleased to be tabling on behalf of the hon. leader of the third party a tabling which reflects the comments that he made during his question, comparing the current government’s slashing of spending and previous Premiers’. Thank you very much. May I continue with my own tablings? 2:50 The Speaker: You have a second tabling?

Ms Blakeman: I have a tabling for myself aside from the tabling I just did on behalf of Edmonton-Meadowlark. The Speaker: Please continue. Ms Blakeman: Thank you very much. I am now tabling the appropriate number of copies of a fascinating presentation called Municipal Revenue: An Examination for Discussion. I want to point out that all of the data used in this does come from the Alberta Ministry of Municipal Affairs except where it is noted. This is really starting to break down the way the combined low – I’m missing the right word – assessment works, which is really creating a difference. Thank you.

The Speaker: Thank you. The hon. Member for Calgary-Buffalo. Mr. Hehr: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have four tablings. I will try to do them relatively quickly. The first is from a constituent of mine, Ms Susan Younggren. She is a pharmacist with a number of years of experience. She is concerned about some of the changes the government is contemplating on reim - bursement charges. It’s a very good letter. I have forwarded it to the minister. The next is a letter from another constituent, Ms Lori Rosmus. She’s highly concerned about the state of Albert a schools.

Many of them, as you are aware, are in need of repairs, and the backlog in maintenance is becoming apparent and the size of school classes as well. The next is an

article by Dr. Roger Gibbins. It’s entitled Alberta Must “Double Down” on Heavy O il. Included in that, on the second page is a specific reference to the need for Alberta to change its fiscal structure, and if that’s too cryptic for everybody here, to raise tax revenues to allow us to do both predictable, sustainable funding as well as to save for the inevitable day when we run out of this stuff. The last tabling is comments made by a former MLA, a colleague of mine, Mr. Harry Chase, at the health care inquiry. As we know, Mr.

Chase was very passionate about fighting for the issues that many people care about in this province. Thank you very much. The Speaker: Thank you. The hon. Member for Edmonton-Calder. Mr. Eggen: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to table the appropriate number of copies of postcard submissions that Albertans made to our prebudget tour, that we conducted in the last few weeks. I have some comments and interesting input from Robert, Bill, Helen, Sharon, Don, Lynne, and others. For example, Robert would like to see the government change the flat tax back to a progressive income tax.

Submissions like this clearly show the priorities of Albertans and how out of touch this PC government actually is. Thank you. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Centre has already tabled. Hon. members, I have a tabling as well, then, unless there are some others. Are there any other tablings? No? Thank you. I am going to table something pursuant to

section 39( 3) of the Legislative Assembly Act, and that is five copies of the following orders that were passed at the December 19, 2012, meeting and at the February 7, 2013, meeting of the Special Standing Committee on Members’ Services: specifically, item 1, Member s’ Services Committee Order 10/12, Constituency Services Amendment Order No. 26, effective April 1, 2013; item 2, Members’ Services Committee Order 01/13, Members’ Committee Allowances Amendment Order No. 10, effective February 7, 2013; item 3, Members’ Services Committee Order 02/13, Executive Council Salaries Amendment Order No. 09, effective February 7, 2013; and finally, item 4, Members’ Services Committee Order 03/13, Members’ Allowances Amendment Order No. 25, effective February 7, 2013.

Hon. members, I believe we have a couple of points of order. I think, Edmonton-Strathcona, you were first off the mark. Would you like to proceed with a citation and your point of order, please. Point of Order Inflammatory Language Ms Notley: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise to raise a point of order under – I’m sorry; I should know this – 23 (h), (i), and (j). I should have this memorized. Clearly, it’s my first day back. I should have been chanting it last night as I was falling asleep.

Anyway, the reason I rise is i n relation to the comments made by the Minister of Service Alberta in response to the comments made in a

preamble of a question put to the government, to the Minister of Education in particular, by the Member for Edmonton- Calder. In his question the Member for Edmonton-Calder outlined in his

preamble his concern that the public education system is a train wreck. In supporting that suggestion, he pointed to specific issues. He talked about broken promises, Mr. Speaker. He talked

March 5, 2013 Alberta Hansard 1367 about promising long -term, su stainable funding. He talked about promises of full -day kindergarten. He talked about promises of new schools. He talked about the difficulty or the spectre we’ve had with the Minister of Education being under investigation for having inappropriately communicated potentially, just potentially obviously, with teachers around bargaining.

He also talked about the issue which we saw on the front page of the Edmonton Journal today, where 500 or so children are being asked to move to a school in another part of the city because of difficulties with respect to capital construction in the education system. So those were the things that he was talking about, and he was talking, in essence, about the public system. The Minister of Service Alberta responded by suggesting that the Member for Edmonton-Calder was actually saying that the work of Alberta teachers was a train wreck, and that, of course, was not what the member had ever suggested.

To suggest that the member was accusing Alberta’s hard -working public teachers of having work that equates to a train wreck is, of course, everything that breaches 23(h), (i), and (

j) in that he made allegations against the member and he imputed false or unavowed motives to another member. It’s particularly, Mr. Speaker, with respect to subsection (

i) because essentially here was the Member for Edmonton-Calder using his first question in this session this year to raise concerns about the quality of our education system, concerns that he had heard about as our Education critic in his work meeting with probably now thousands of teachers and ATA locals and school board people across the province over the course of not only our budget tour but also i n terms of his day -to-day work as our Education critic. He was taking their concerns into the Legislature to raise the concern that they have about what’s happening to our system as a whole.

Then to have the Minister of Service Alberta turn around and impute a motive to him that somehow he didn’t think those teachers were doing a good quality of work is really, I think, designed to create disorder in the Legislature and clearly implies an unavowed motive to the Member for Edmonton-Calder. Ms Blakeman: As well as maligning. Ms Notley: Indeed. He was maligning the Member for Edmonton- Calder by suggesting that he would make such statements.

The member was speaking about specific elements of the public education system, which, I would argue, can fairly be characterized as a bit of a train wreck when you look at everything that we’ve seen happen in our public education system; i.e., those things that are under the control of this government, which, of course, are the appropriate things for the member to ask the question about, those things which are under the control of this government. Those things he can talk about, and he can characterize it as he characterizes it because that’s his right.

The issue is: are those things the things which are within the control of this minister or this cabinet? At no time was he ever suggesting that teachers in this province don’t work desperately hard. In fact, they work increasingly hard every day, Mr. Speaker, as a result of the bad decisions and the broken promises that have been made by the people across the way in cabinet, which is the appro - priate issue for us to be discussing here in this Legislature during question period.

I would ask that the Minister of Service Alberta withdraw the suggestion that the Member for Edmonton -Calder would ever suggest that teachers are not hard-working people whose quality of work is very good and whose work, in fact, deserves our support and commendation every day. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. 3:00 The Speaker: The hon. Government House Leader. Mr. Hancock: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is with some delight that I rise to deal with this particular point of order.

I would start by indicating that it’s no surprise that the hon. member would forget 23(h), (i), and (j), making allegations against another member and imputing false or unavowed motives, because she so seldom has the opportunity to raise those against the members of the government. It so rarely happens. I’m not surprised that she wasn’t up last night chanting them, but I am surprised that she fell asleep because I would have thought she would have been trembling with excitement at the context of a new session starting. Mr. Horner: Weren’t we all? Mr. Hancock: I was.

With respect to her point of order there is, with respect, Mr. Speaker, no point of order. This is a classic definition of the term “hoist with his own petard”. The hon. member threw a bomb in talking about the train wreck of the education system when he could have raised some questions, if he ha d legitimate questions, about some of the things that could be fixed. There are always things that could be fixed. There are always things that could be improved. But no. He tried to explode the whole education system as being a train wreck.

In doing so, t he shrapnel caught the whole education system, including the most important part of the education system, the thing that holds the education system together and makes it among the best in the world, and that’s, of course, excellence in education, excellence in teaching. That’s what we have in this province: excellence in teaching.

When the hon. member gets up to raise a question and starts with hyperbole, talking about the train wreck that’s the education system – the most important part of the education s ystem is excellence in teaching, which is excellent teachers – he cannot possibly hoist that petard without blowing himself up. It’s clearly not the hon. member saying something bad about or casting a false and unavowed motive against the member who raised the question. He did it to himself. The Speaker: I really don’t think we need to prolong this any further unless somebody feels compelled to add something that we haven’t heard so far.

I’ve risen so many times on points of order where all we’re really doi ng is trying to seek clarification for something. Let me give you all a reminder here on day 1 that I’m not going to suffer unparliamentary language in this session, and I’m telling you that right now. If you’re going to abuse rules that otherwise call for decorum and dignity in the House and civility, you should observe the rule that talks about not using inflammatory language that is likely to lead to disorder. That’s probably what happened here.

One person hears it this way, another person hears it tha t way, and we have two varying opinions on it. How did he use it, or how did she use it? That leads to a point of order, and that takes up the House’s time. That takes up my time, which takes up your time, and that doesn’t roll the ball forward. Both sides have aired their differences on this matter, and we’re going to move on. Second point of order. Airdrie, please.

1368 Alberta Hansard March 5, 2013 Point of Order Imputing Motives Mr. Anderson: I appreciate that, Mr. Speaker. We will endeavour on this side to do so and hope that the government will as well. Quoting from the book of Standing Orders,

chapter 23, verses (h), (i), and (j), is the citation here. The hon. Member for Calgary-Shaw specifically questioned the Municipal Affairs minister on a matter regarding public housing and folk s who are making six -figure incomes being able to get subsidized housing in some cases. The member specifically asked how something like this could get through the Municipal Affairs ministry over a 10-year period without it being detected. It was a very clear question.

The Municipal Affairs minister then retorted, for some reason alleging baselessly that the member for Calgary -Shaw had impugned the folks that were working on the front lines, who are working on the social housing file in different agencies and so forth, saying that they weren’t doing their job. Well, you know, I would say that anybody with a good understanding of the English language – and I know this minister does have a very good understanding of the English language. He’s written books that would show that. He’s a smart individual. He understands English.

Clearly, that was not what the Member for Calgary -Shaw said. Clearly, he was asking this minister how his department had failed. He was not in any way blaming or casting aspersions on the agencies that do that hard front-line work. I don’t want to belabour this, but I would ask that in future the minister just answer the question instead of saying that when we ask a question about health care, we are casting aspersions on the doctors; if we’re asking a question on education, it’s the teachers; and so forth. I mean, we’re not going to get anywhere in here if that’s the case moving forward, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mr. Griffiths: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I did he ar that the hon. member had cast aspersions on the Heart River Housing foundation, that manages it locally. The Alberta Social Housing Corporation, which runs under Municipal Affairs, gets audited by our Auditor General, and we review those. We take submis sions after the local Heart River Housing foundation, the one in this case, does an audit by an independent outside contractor, and they submit the report from the auditor to us. But we don’t have all of the details.

The insinuation was that we did something wrong, but obviously the control lies within the Heart River Housing foundation’s control. To insinuate that somebody had done something wrong was a direct attack on the Heart River Housing foundation. At least, that’s the way I took it. I assumed that the member didn’t honestly understand that they manage those affairs. They get very defensive, Mr. Speaker, because they are hard-working people who did their best to manage things at a local level and to serve the needs of local clients.

So I did get def ensive and accuse them of attacking them because they’re the ones who manage it. The Speaker: Thank you. Well, both sides have had a chance to clear the air. Is there anyone else who feels compelled to add anything to this point of order? If not, let me just remind people again about not only the language used but the tone, the intent, the timbre with which it is delivered. Quite often we do get a little bit carried away, frankly, on both sides of the House, so we just need to pay a little closer attention to that.

At the same time I might just remind you of Beauchesne’s 494, where it says, “On rare occasions [certain things] may result in the House having to accept two contradictory accounts of the same incident.” I think that’s at play a little bit here. Accordingly, I don’t find there to be a point of order, but I do find it a point of clarification. It has been had. Thank you. head: Statement by the Speaker Oral Question Period Time Limits The Speaker: Now, while I’m on my feet, let me just address a couple of other points that were quickly delivered to me over the last little while. It concerns the 35 -second rule.

Some of you will recall that in a procedural letter that I sent to you, I indicated words to this effect. I read them to you back in May of last year, and I’m going to read them briefly once again. Members asking a question will be entitled to a main question and two supplementary questions. There should not be

preambles to the supplementary questions. However, in keeping with the practice of the last Legislature, questions and answers should be no longer than 35 seconds each. The chair will enforce this time to enable the maximum number of members possible to participate in question period. So far I’ve received two notes asking me about the 35- second rule. In fact, in both cases both hon. members indicated that they felt that in some cases we had gone up to 40 seconds and in some cases today we went up to 45 seconds.

I want to clarify somethi ng for you, and that is that the clock for the 35- second rule does not technically start until the person starts to speak. Okay? So that will probably neutralize a couple of the questions. With respect to the other ones I’m going to check the tape tonight as I do every night after question period, and I’ll do some of my own timings. So thank you very much.

In the meantime, please also understand that there are times when I have to cut off a government minister, there are times when I have to cut off an hon. member from the opposition or a private member from the government side who’s asking a question, but there are also times when I let them complete a sentence when I see that they’re almost ready to wrap up. Please leave that discretion with the chair; otherwise, we’re going to have to have a sharp guillotine that none of you are going to enjoy. Thank you. Let us move on now. 3:10 head: Orders of the Day head: Government Motions Evening Sittings 21. Mr.

Hancock moved:

Be it resolved that pursuant to Sta nding Order 4(1) the Assembly shall meet on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evenings for consideration of government business for the duration of the 2013 spring sitting unless on motion by the Government House Leader made before 6 p.m., which may be made orally and without notice, the Assembly is adjourned to the following sitting day. The Speaker: Hon. members, pursuant to SO 4(1) this is not a debatable motion. [Government Motion 21 carried]

March 5, 2013 Alberta Hansard 1369 head: Transmittal of Estimates The Speaker: The hon. President of Treasury Board and Minister of Finance. Mr. Horner: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have received a certain message from His Honour the Honourable the Lieutenant Governor, which I now transmit to you. The Sergeant-at-Arms: Order! All rise, please. The Speaker: The Lieutenant Governor transmits supplementary supply estimates of certain sums required for the service of the province for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2013, and recommends the same to the Legislative Assembly. Please be seated. The hon.

President of Treasury Board and Minister of Finance. Mr. Horner: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I now wish to table the 2013 supplementary supply estimates. When supplementary estimates are tabled,

section 8 of the Government Accountability Act requires that a new or amended fiscal plan be tabled. Accordingly, the 2012- 13 supplementary estimates include an amended 2012- 13 fiscal plan. The 2012- 13 supplementary estimates will provide additional spending for five government departments. When passed, the estimates will authorize approximate increases of $401 million in expenses, $55 million in capital investment, and $77.5 million in nonbudgetary disbursements of the government. head: Government Motions (continued) 22. Mr. Horner moved:

Be it resolved that the messag e from His Honour the Honourable the Lieutenant Governor, the 2012- 13 supplementary supply estimates for the general revenue fund, and all matters connected therewith be referred to Committee of Supply. [Government Motion 22 carried] 23. Mr. Horner moved on behalf of Mr. Hancock:

Be it resolved that pursuant to Standing Order 61(2) the Committee of Supply shall be called to consider the 2012-13 supplementary supply estimates for the general revenue fund for three hours on Wednesday, March 6, 2013. [Government Motion 23 carried] The Speaker: The hon. Government House Leader. Amendments to Standing Orders 24. Mr. Hancock moved: A

Be it resolved that the standing orders of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta effective May 28, 2012, be amended as follows: 1. Standing Order 7 is amended (

a) in suborder (1) by striking out “Projected Government Business (Thursday)”, (

b) by striking out suborder (6). 2. Standing Order 8 is amended by adding the following after suborder (2):

(2.1) On Thursday afternoon no later t han the time of adjournment, the Government House Leader shall provide notice to the Clerk of projected Government business to be brought before the Assembly in the next week, which shall be published in the Order Paper for the next sitting day. 3. Standing Order 52(1) is amended (

a) in clause (

a) by striking out “21” and substi - tuting “18”; (

b) in clause (

b) by striking out “21” and substi - tuting “18”; (

c) in clause (

c) by striking out “21” and substi - tuting “18”. 4. Standing Order 52.01(1) is amended (

a) by striking out “25” and substituting “18”; (

b) in clause (

b) by striking out “Aboriginal Relations,”; (

c) in clause (

c) by striking out “and Energy” and substituting “Energy and Aboriginal Rela - tions”. 5. Standing Order 57 is amended (

a) in suborder (1) by striking out all the words that follow “except” and substituting the following: (

a) as provided for under Standing Order 59.01, or (

b) with leave of the Assembly. (

b) in suborder (2) by striking out “suborder (1)” and substituting “suborder (1)(b)”. 6. Standing Order 59.01 is amended (

a) by striking out suborders (1) to (4) and substi - tuting the following: 59.01(1) Following the Budget Address, the main estimates of the ministries shall stand referred to the Legislative Policy Committees according to their respective mandates.

(2) The estimates of the Executive Council shall stand referred to the Standing Committee on Alberta’s Economic Future.

(3) At any time following the announcement of the date of the Budget Address and no later than 3 sitting days fol lowing the Budget Address, the Legislative Policy Committees shall meet to determine a proposed

schedule for consideration of the ministries’ estimates that stand referred to them.

(4) Following the meetings held pursuant to suborder (3), the chairs of the Legislative Policy Committees shall provide the proposed schedules to the Government House Leader, who shall then finalize the

schedule for consid- eration of main estimates, and such

schedule shall be tabled by the Government House Leader in the Assembly no later than the Thursday preceding the first meeting scheduled for estimates consideration and shall be published in the Order Paper for the next sitting day.

(5) The

schedule for consideration of the main estimates shall be subject to the following requirements: (

a) Legislative Policy Committees may only meet at the following times: (

i) on Monday evenings from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. (ii) on Tuesdays from 8 a.m. to noon

1370 Alberta Hansard March 5, 2013 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. (iii) on Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to noon 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. (iv) on Thursdays from 8 a.m. to noon (

b) on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, the Assembly shall stand adjourned upon the completion of the daily routine and all matters arising in connection with the routine, to allow for Legislativ e Policy Committees to meet for estimates consideration unless the Government House Leader, upon one sitting day’s notice, advises the Assembly that the Assembly must meet beyond the daily routine to deal with Government business and the remaining meetings to consider estimates and the date for the vote shall be rescheduled as necessary; (

c) on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons, Legislative Policy Committees may commence estimates consideration not - withstanding that the Assembly has not completed the daily r outine and if a vote is called in the Assembly, a Committee shall recess to allow Members to attend to vote; (

d) the estimates for a ministry shall be considered for a minimum of 2 hours to a maximum of 6 hours; (

e) the estimates of the Executive Council shall be considered for a maximum of 2 hours; (

f) no more than 2 Legislative Policy Committees shall be scheduled to consider estimates at the same time.

(6) Subject to suborder (7), a Legislative Policy Committee shall consider estimates in the following manner: (

a) the Minister, or the member of the Executive Council acting on the Minister’s behalf, may make opening comments not to exceed 10 minutes, (

b) for the hour that follows, members of the Official Opposition and the Minister, or the member of the Ex ecutive Council acting on the Minister’s behalf, may speak, (

c) for the next 20 minutes, the members of the third party, if any, and the Minister or the member of the Executive Council acting on the Minister’s behalf, may speak, (

d) for the next 20 minutes , the member of the fourth party, if any, and the Minister or the member of the Executive Council acting on the Minister’s behalf, may speak, (

e) for the next 20 minutes, private Members of the Government caucus and the Minister or the member of the Execut ive Council acting on the Minister’s behalf, may speak, and (

f) any Member may speak thereafter.

(7) If a ministry’s estimates are scheduled to be considered for fewer than 3 hours, the speaking times in suborder (6) shall be adjusted proportionately subject to any other decision of the committee. (

b) by renumbering suborders (5), (6) and (7) as suborders (8), (9) and (10), respectively; (

c) by adding the following after suborder (10):

(11) During the period that main estimates stand referred to the Legislative Policy Committees, such period commencing the first day that estimates are scheduled for consid - eration and ending when the final vote in Committee of Supply occurs, these Committees shall not meet to consider any other matter nor shall any oth er committee of the Assembly meet during this period, unless otherwise ordered by the Assembly. 7. Standing Order 59.02 is amended (

a) by striking out suborder (1) and substituting the following: 59.02(1) The Standing Orders of the Assembly shall be observ ed in the consideration of estimates except as follows: (

a) during consideration of interim or supplementary estimates, the rotation outlined in Standing Order 59.01(6) shall apply; (

b) all speaking times are limited to 10 minutes at one time during the rotation outlined in Standing Order 59.01(6)(

a) to (e); (

c) all subsequent speaking times are limited to 5 minutes at one time; (

d) a Member may speak more than once. (

b) in suborder (2) (

i) by adding “or (c)” after “suborder (1)(b)”, and (ii) by striking out “for a total of 20 minutes”; (

c) in suborder (3)(

a) by adding “or to respond to questions from the Committee at the request of the Minister during main estimates consid - eration” before “, and”. 8. Standing Order 59.03 is amended (

a) in suborder (1) (

i) in clause (

a) by striking out “Standing Order 59.01(6)” and substituting “Stand- ing Order 59.01(9)”, (ii) in clause (

b) by (

A) striking out “department” and substituting “ministry”, (

B) striking out “department’s” and substituting “ministry’s”, and (

C) striking out “departments” and substituting “ministries”, (

b) in suborder (2) by striking out “Standing Order 59.01(6)” and substituting “Standing Order 59.01(9)”, (

c) by striking out suborder (4) and substituting the following:

March 5, 2013 Alberta Hansard 1371

(4) On the date scheduled for t he vote on the main estimates, if the vote has not been taken earlier, the Chair shall interrupt the proceedings at (

a) one hour before the normal adjournment hour as defined in Standing Order 64(1)(

b) if the vote is scheduled for an afternoon sitting, or (b) 9 p.m. if the vote is scheduled for an evening sitting, and, if required, Committee of Supply shall be called and the Legislative Policy Committee Chairs shall report without question put and then voting on the main estimates shall proceed. (

d) by adding the following after suborder (6):

(7) Following the Committee of Supply’s report to the Assembly on the main estimates, the Assembly shall immediately revert to Introduction of Bills for the introduction of the appropriation Bill. 9. Standing Order 61 i s struck out and the following is substituted: 61(1) Interim and supplementary estimates shall be considered for not less than 3 hours.

(2) A member of the Executive Council may, with at least one day’s notice, make a motion to determine (

a) when Committee of Supply may be called to consider interim or supplementary estimates, and (

b) the amount of time for consideration, and such questions shall be decided without debate or amendment.

(3) Following the Committee of Supply’s report on interim or supplementa ry estimates, the Assembly shall immediately revert to Introduction of Bills for the introduction of the appropriation Bill. 10. Standing Order 64 is amended by adding the following after suborder (5):

(6) If more than one appropriation Bill is moved for s econd or third reading in the Assembly or considered by the Committee of the Whole on any day, and the Bills are at different stages, the questions on the appropriation Bills shall be put in the following order: (

a) Committee of the Whole; (

b) second reading; (

c) third reading. 11. Standing Order 89 is struck out and the following is substituted: Publication of time limits 89 When the sessional calendar is published under Standing Order 3, the Clerk of the Assembly shall publish a notice stating the day that the time limit for receiving private Bills will expire (

a) on the Legislative Assembly website, and (

b) once a week for 2 consecutive weeks in every daily newspaper published in Alberta. 12. Standing Order 91(1) is amended (

a) by striking out clause (a), (

b) in clause (

b) by striking out “the session” and substituting “the sitting in which the petition will be presented”. 13. Standing Order 92 is amended by striking out “$200” and substituting “$500”. 14. Standing Order 94(2) is amended by striking out “following the opening day of the session” and substituting “following the first day of the first sitting in any year”. Transitional - Petitions for Private Bills 15. In 2013, notwithstanding Standing Order 94(2), the Clerk shall publish a notice as outli ned in Standing Order 89 that sets the time limit to 30 days following the date this motion takes effect.

B Be it further resolved that the amendments in this motion come into force on passage. Mr. Hancock: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This standing order is necessary to help us proceed with, essentially, the process following the budget. There are a few minor pieces in there which I would point out. Subsections A(1) and A(2) deal with simply removing the Routine called Projected Government Business (Thursday) a nd then provide that that projected government business will be supplied to the Clerk’s office and printed in the Order Paper. That’s basically an unnecessary process that we go through every week.

We also in subsection A(3) reduce the number of members on standing committees from 21 to 18. There are three standing committees that had 21 members, and we’re asking that they be reduced to 18. Subsection (4) does the same thing by changing the size of the legislative policy committees from 25 members to 18 m embers and by moving the responsibility for the Department of Aboriginal Relations from Alberta’s Economic Future Committee to the Resource Stewardship Committee. Those are our processes, and I think everybody would agree with those. We’ve had some conversation around those in the past.

We started with 25 members on the committees and 21 members on the committees in the interest of ensuring that every member of the opposition had an opportunity to be on one of the committees, but I think everybody agrees that the sizes of those committees are too large to be appropriately functional. With the substitution rules that we have, any member who wants to participate – first of all, any member can attend. They now by protocol get notice of all the meetings. Any me mber that wants to attend a committee meeting can, and they can participate in those meetings but for moving motions and voting.

If they want to participate by moving motions and voting, the substitution rules allow that rather well. Those are fairly routine pieces. The meat of this motion is really about the procedure for estimates. Members will recall that in the standing orders as they’re printed now, every department goes to either a legislative policy committee or the Committee of Supply essentially f or three hours. It doesn’t matter whether there’s $12 billion in the budget or $1 million although I guess there are none with $1 million but maybe $30 million or $60 million; they go for the same time to committee.

Opposition House leaders and I have talk ed over the years about how we could do it better, how we could allocate more time for larger departments, how we could ensure that there’s enough time. Also, Mr. Speaker, one of the things that we’re cognizant of is that now there’s a fewer number of ministries. We’ve gone down now to essentially what would be 18 ministries, including Executive Council. Under the old rules that would only allow for 54 hours of consideration of estimates.

I know that the Member for Edmonton-Centre for one has always argued that there ought to be more time, not less, for the consideration of estimates. In acquiescence to her desire to continue with a lot of time for the appropriate consideration of estimates, we’re proposing here that,

1372 Alberta Hansard March 5, 2013 in fact, all estimates go to the legislative policy committees, including the Executive Council estimates. The legislative policy committees can determine the length of time for each ministry, a minimum of two hours and a maximum of six hours.

We’ve tried to create the greatest possible latitu de in the standing orders for the scheduling of meetings: not Monday mornings because members are arriving from across the province to attend, and there are other things that need to be done on Monday mornings; not Thursday afternoons because, as we determined a number of years ago, we want to get back to the constituencies to have an opportunity to be there to consult with our constituents on Fridays and over the weekends, and for some travelling, clearly, they can’t make their travel arrangements if we have a late or even a normal adjournment hour of 6 o’clock on Thursdays.

So not providing for scheduling on Monday mornings or Thursday afternoons, but otherwise during the week every available time could be made available, including adjourning the House right after the Routine to allow the LPC to sit and meet and consider estimates provides the greatest amount of flexibility for scheduling.

We will still have a horrendous job – and it is a horrendous job – of sitting down, first of all, with the House leade rs in the opposition to look at what is the art of the possible and then to consult with the legislative policy committees, which is a new step and one that I embark upon with some trepidation as I’m reminded eloquently from time to time by, again, the Mem ber for Edmonton-Centre that that creates some difficulties in the process. But I think it’s important. We’ve said that the legislative policy committees, the all -party committees of the House, have an important role.

One of their important roles should be to own their agenda. That means they should have a say in the setting of the agenda. That is the purport of (6) in the proposal. It’s really to set up the maximum possible times. I can tell you that I’ve heard from the House leaders opposite that they’re not particularly interested – in fact, I would think they stated it a little bit more strongly – in morning meetings. I understand that. We’ve always been reluctant to

schedule two committees at a time, but we also have to determine an appropriate length of time to deal with the budget estimates and get appropriation acts passed on a timely basis. Our hope would be to do that this year by the end of April. So within that time frame we have the latitude to

schedule the estimates. We’ll work with the opposition to

schedule them. We won’t be pleasing everybody all the time, but we will do our very best to make it a palatable approach and one which gives primacy to the idea that we should spend the time necessary to appropriately examine our estimates, to hear the ideas that might come forward – and I’m sure there are some good ideas – as to how we could do better with them, and then follow through on that. 3:20 Because estimates are so important and because it is hard work – and I wouldn’t want anybody in the public that may be listening right now to think that this is not hard work.

The estimates are a heavy read, and getting in behind them is heavy work. So we’re saying in these amendments that other committees shouldn’t meet while estimates are being considered. We should be able to have members focus their attention on the estimates and not have to be running off to other legislative committees at that time. I think there’s a proviso there that allows something to happen in an emergency.

By the same token, while we’re talking about the House adjourning after the Routine each day to allow LPCs to meet in the afternoons, to provide more time for that, we do reserve the right, on appropriate notice, to call for government business in an afternoon and evening and, if we do, to then make appropriate adjustments to the schedule. We’ve asked that Standing Order 59.03 be amended to allow for greater participation by officials in the estimates process. Normally, in fact, in Committee of Supply ministers are there and respond to the questions.

Then we changed the rules to allow officials to come in so that answers could be more complete, and then we changed the rules to allow the opposition to bring someone in to assist them with it. We want to take this one step further and say that where appropriate, officials can answer the questions. It’s an appropriate addition because the concept here is to get the best information out and to appropriately respond to questions. That’s the meat and substance of this. It does provi de that there are issues with respect to the Appropriation Act.

The Appropriation Act has usually been interpreted in an appropriate way, but if there are two competing appropriation acts on any given day, the question has always been: “If one gets voted, what happens? Do you pass the time to vote the other one?” This provides clarity that they’re voted in succession. The vote would remain exactly the way it is in the standing orders now, where amendments could be moved in legislative policy committees but not voted. The legislative policy committee reports are reported with any amendments to the Committee of Supply.

We then vote on the estimates by voting on any proposed amendments first, any so -called pullouts that any member has decided they want to be v oted on separately, and then a rollout vote of the rest. What is in the standing orders here is sort of a clarification of the time, whether it’s in the afternoon or the evening, when that vote will be held if it hasn’t been previously called on the day it’s been scheduled. Then a little piece here, and I have to admit to it being somewhat personal. After the Committee of Supply reports to the Legislative Assembly that the estimates have been considered, we amend